Before you light up, know more about your cigars

At Cigar Conexion it’s safe to say we love our cigars. If you’re anything like us, it is highly likely that you want to be seen smoking that beautiful cigar like a pro! So here are 14 things you need to keep in mind before lighting up your next cigar!

If it feels don’t the buy it. Chances are, that cigar has been packed too tightly or hasn’t been stored correctly and has therefore dried out!

Have you ever sucked milkshake through a drink stirrer? Well that’s what smoking this cigar is going to be like. It’s going to be difficult, the cigar will be dry and the wrapper will peel and unravel as it burns.

Good cigars are handmade and have three parts:

A Good cigar will have the following!

A long filler,

A binder to hold the filler.

A different type of tobacco for the wrapper.

Cheap machine made cigars have short fillers. Avoid them!

Every Cigar is Different!

Mild, medium and full are the classifications. The full-bodied ones are the most flavorful, but they can make you feel woozy if you’re not used to them.

Size doesn’t equal strength.

Nor does the color of the tobacco leaves used as the wrapper. The lightest wrappers are double claro (light green) and claro (tan). The darkest wrappers are maduro (dark brown) and oscuro (black).

The bigger the ring size (circumference) of the cigar the longer it takes to smoke.

The size is measured in 64ths of an inch. So 50-ring cigars like a “Churchill” or “robusto” are 50/64ths of an inch in diameter. Extra-large cigars (larger than 50) are frowned upon as cartoonish.

Don’t dip the cigar into whatever you’re drinking…Ever!

All this does is taint the flavors of your cigar and your drink- effectively ruining both.

Cubans aren’t the industry standard anymore.

There are exceptional Cuban cigars—especially if they contain tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region—but other tropical countries like the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras make great cigars, too. Also, (unlike Cubans) they’re legal to buy in the United States.

Humidors are storage boxes for cigars. They’re designed to preserve your cigar’s perfection, so before you stock up on cigars, invest in a humidor first.

For the best draw, cut a cigar at about 1/16th of an inch from the tip.

Yes, we know it’s incredibly precise, but it’s worth it. There are many types of suitable cutters. Whatever you use, make sure your cut is quick and clean; this way you don’t fray the wrapper or filler.

Keep the flame Close!

But don’t let it touch the tobacco. Rotate the cigar as you heat it up. This will help it burn evenly.

Don’t use candles, grill lighters or fluid cigarette lighters on a cigar.

Opt for long wooden matches instead, they don’t affect the cigar. If you must use a standard match, let the sulphur burn for a second before putting it next to the cigar.

A cigar should burn evenly, and the wrapper should remain intact.

If the cigar burns faster on one side or hollows in the middle (known as a canoe), let the cigar cool, and clip the burnt end until it’s evened out. Then light it again.

DO NOT INHALE

Remember, you’re meant to taste and savor the delicate flavors of the smoke, not choke on it.